2-12. MEDICAL CLINICS
Medical clinics are activities engaged in providing ambulatory medical services.
Medical clinics are organizational elements of the Department of Primary Care and
Community Medicine of a MEDCEN or MEDDAC. They are not major organizational
elements of the MEDCEN, MEDDAC, or hospital. They are however important in
providing health care services to eligible beneficiaries and in fulfilling the hospital's
mission. In certain cases, they may operate independently, but are still assigned to an
appropriate MEDCEN/MEDDAC.
a. Army Health Clinic. An AHC is a medical treatment activity that is
organized, staffed, and equipped to provide ambulatory medical services to all
personnel authorized care in Army MTFs. The AHC may also provide civi1ian
employee health services as directed by the Chief, PVNTMED Activity. Typical AHC
staffing includes physician, nursing, professional ancillary, and administrative personnel.
The AHC normally has general radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy capabilities and
may offer care in one or more of the subspecialties of medicine, surgery, and
psychiatry. It may also provide administrative and logistical functions as directed by the
MEDCEN or MEDDAC to which it is subordinate. The AHC is not designated or staffed
as an inpatient MTF.
b. Troop Medical Clinic. A TMC is a medical treatment activity which is
organized, staffed, and equipped to accomplish sick call and to provide limited
treatment and referral of patients to a health clinic, hospital, or dental clinic as
appropriate. Normally, a TMC provides care to active duty military personnel only. (An
exception is dependent medical care provided when given by a family practice physician
or a flight surgeon operating on assigned unit support basis.) The TMC is normally
staffed by a full or part-time physician or military physician or military physician
assistant. The clinic normally provides immunization services, medical examination,
physical profiling, and limited pharmacy dispensing services. Staffing for a TMC may be
provided by TOE medical unit personnel. Technical supervision and medical care
evaluation activities, however, rest with the MEDCEN or MEDDAC commander.
c. Occupational Health Clinic. An OHC is a medical treatment activity that is
organized, staffed, and equipped to promote and maintain the physical and mental
fitness of civilian employees of the Federal government. A separately established OHC
will be headed by a full-time physician and staffed with civilian nursing, technical, and
other administration personnel are required. Those activities similarly constituted but
without the full-time physician staffing will be designed as Occupational Health Nursing
Offices. The clinic is equipped and staffed to treat on-the-job illness or injury requiring
emergency treatment, to accomplish replacement and work related medical
examination, and to refer employees to private health care practitioners. It
accomplishes preventive activities related to health and industrial hygiene programs as
prescribed by the Chief, PVNTMED Activity. Where possible, the functions of the clinic
are performed by the MEDCEN or MEDDAC hospital or by the AHC and a separate
OHC is not established.
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